In recent weeks, Hamas has taken polemic steps to exert its state authority in the Palestinian Territories, only to be matched by the emboldened Fatah leader and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas . The political and inter-governmental rivalry has enhanced the growing chaos spreading through the West Bank and Gaza Strip that culminated in a Hamas-Fatah clash that left 40 Palestinians wounded. The civil strife has occurred among an increasing economic depravity resulting from the Israel , US , and EU decision to withhold vital foreign aid from the Palestinian government; the economic siege will continue until Hamas relents and recognizes Israel and the legitimacy of past peace agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority .
The Interior Ministry of the Palestinian Authority, currently under Hamas? control, has created a rapid reaction police force (RRPF) to help quell the growing lawlessness in the Gaza Strip and to protect government officials who may come under attack, presumably from rival militias. The 3,000-man force will be comprised primarily of members from Hamas? Al-Qassam Brigades, along with 500 militants from the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) . In addition to creating a new militia of noted terrorists (al-Qassam Brigades were responsible for launching dozens of suicide attacks in Israel and PRC continues to fire rounds of rockets into Israeli territory), the Hamas government appointed PRC?s commander Jamal Abu Samhadana to the post of Inspector General of the Interior Ministry. In this capacity, Samhadana?a high value target on Israel?s most wanted list?will oversee multiple branches of the security forces, including the newly formed RRPF that he believes will form ?the nucleus of the future Palestinian army? (source).
Abbas vetoed the creation of a new Interior Ministry militia, regarding its inception as a rival and threat to the Fatah-dominated PA security services. This is the first veto Abbas has issued against a Hamas initiative, signaling the importance he attaches to Fatah?s control over internal security. Furthermore, Abbas reiterated his overall displeasure with Hamas? governance by publicly reminding them of his constitutional authority to dismiss the government. Abbas has also stated his intentions to pursue a peace process with Israel; in the event of an agreement, he plans to avoid the Hamas-led Parliament and bring a referendum directly to the Palestinian people. In response, the Hamas leadership in Damascus accused Abbas of ?plotting against us? (source) and the Interior Ministry ignored his militia veto. The RRPF has held a camera-friendly demonstration, inviting the media, and sending a message of defiance to their President.
The Hamas-Fatah rivalry is acting out amid a looming crisis in the Palestinian Territories. Almost entirely reliant on foreign aid and Israeli-collected tax revenue from the West Bank, the PA is currently bankrupt. Israel is applying the tax revenue toward utility-related Palestinian debt, and the US-EU are continuing to withhold aid from the Hamas-led government, given its antagonistic posture toward Israel. The PA has over 160,000 Palestinians on their payroll, making virtually every family in the West Bank and Gaza Strip reliant on government paychecks, none of which have arrived for March or April. Additionally, Israel has temporarily closed several border crossings to address security concerns, resulting in an extreme shortage of medical supplies and basic food items. Moreover, while Iran , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , and Kuwait have pledged a combined total of over $200 million to the PA, Arab banks have reacted to US and European pressure by refusing to handle PA-related accounts, keeping the available aid outside the reach of the Palestinian government.
Despite the intense civil strife, both sides recognize the dangers of a civil war and appear determined to avoid it. When Khaled Meshaal , Hamas? political leader in Damascus, accused Abbas of being a traitor for plotting against the Palestinian government, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah (see photo below)?a top Hamas official?backed Abbas and reportedly threatened to resign if Meshaal did not apologize, which he subsequently did in a meandering explanation of his comments. Abbas has likewise kept the Fatah-Hamas rivalry in perspective, stating that despite the wishes of some outside parties, civil war is a red-line Palestinians would not cross.
